American Holly grip question(s)

[awp101]

Doing some thinking and planning for a special handgun for my 50th birthday next year. Haven’t decided on just WHAT it will be yet (probably a nicer 1911 or Turnbull CCH Ruger MkIV) but I do plan on a couple of sets of grips for whatever I settle on.

I’ve heard for a long time American Holly can give the look of ivory without the cost. One thing I’m curious about is how well it cleans up, especially if it’s checkered. I very much prefer checkered grips over smooth but that leaves lots of places for dirt, grime and general gun schmutz to accumulate.

It’s ok if they end up with an aged look but what I don’t want is something that just looks grungy and dirty like I couldn’t/didn’t get it cleaned up. Aged look = good stuff. Grungy = unmaintained.

Thanks!

[kings6]

If you really want something that looks similar to ivory I would look at having a set of giraffe bone grips made. I had a set pf bisleys that looked so much like ivory it was scary.

[awp101]

Thanks for the suggestion and that brings up another question I’ve been meaning to ask. I know ivory can be carved but can bone (giraffe, bison, etc) or horn grips be checkered? It seems like every set of bone grips I see are smooth.

[lscg]

Bone is usually porous so it may not be a good candidate for checkering. I’ve seen checkered horn. Holly can very easily get dirty and stain till it has a finish on it. Once it has a finish it won’t stain (it will age) but due to its light color you will notice dust and pocket lint easier than you would on darker grips.

I recently got back a box of stabilized material in which I included some Holly knife blocks. I haven’t had time to make anything with them yet but I did clean up one and it polished up like glass. Next batch of blanks I send off I’m going to include some SA blanks and see how they look as grips. hoping for the ivory look that doesn’t change over time.

[awp101]

Thanks Zane! Maybe that test set can be Wrangler sized...

I know I could use something like THIS but I’d prefer something natural. Just a preference, not a deal breaker.

[dougader]

Maybe Dick/Sixshot will chime in. I recall him making up a set or two in holly a few years back. If he still has them maybe he can comment on how they age.

[lscg]

Dec 15, 2020 19:11:47 GMT -5 awp101 said:

Thanks Zane! Maybe that test set can be Wrangler sized...

I know I could use something like THIS but I’d prefer something natural. Just a preference, not a deal breaker.

Andrew,

I’m afraid I can’t do Wrangler grips and I don’t checker but if you’d like I can send you some blanks. The Holly I’ll be sending in is the best I’ve ever had come through the shop.

[bushog]

Ruple NEEDS some of that holly!

[snakereaper]

O my. love to have some of that holy to have a set for my ruger hunter 41 mag made up.

[dhd]

I've had 3 sets of Holly made and love it and had Ruger medallions put on all of them. No checkering done to any of them so I can't help there. I do know that the 2 older sets have yellowed a little from time and look even better to me. I keep them clean and don't have much intention of using them as a carry piece. If you look hard you can see the grain but from a few feet away it looks solid. All of the grips were made for SS Ruger's and look great on SS. I put on set of the Bisley Holly's on my new Single Six Bisley (my only blued Ruger) to see if they'd fit good. This stuff looks fantastic on a blued revolver!

Zane, those are some nice boards there!

[pacecars]

Sixshot sent me a prefix set for my Bisley that I finished myself. I like the look and they are aging nicely.

[awp101]

Thanks everyone! Let’s see if we can get sixshot in here.

Zane I’ll PM you in a bit about that holly, I’m getting some ideas. Maybe it’s time I pick up a checkering kit and start learning...

[lscg]

It’s pretty cool how it ages with time. below is a set I did a year or so back and they’ve changed quite a bit.

[lscg]

Dec 15, 2020 23:18:44 GMT -5 bushog said:

Ruple NEEDS some of that holly!

Some of it is 1/4” thick which I believe would be perfect for him if it doesn’t warp real bad in the stabilizing process.

[caryc]

I've made plenty of sets of holly grips. Unfortunately I never made a set for one of my own guns, but I do have holly wood in stock so I could always make me a set now if I ever get up the energy to do it.

For those of you that do have a set of holly grips maybe you could take a set off one of your guns. The best way to show how they age is to photograph the set with one panel showing the front side and the other grip showing the back side. That would show how they get darker as they are exposed to sunlight and age some. They don't age on the back.